Eden Restored

Eden Restored

Copyright 2017 John Dunn

Published by F I Group, Inc. at Shakespir

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In Revelation Chapter 21 we read, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’” (verses 3 and 4). See Future Glory Romans 8:18-39.

Eden restored is the heading for Revelation Chapter 22 in the latest online NIV Bible. The tree of life in Genesis 2:9, becomes the river of life with the tree of life on each side in Revelation 22:1-3a: “Then the angel showed me the river of water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. . .” Note: The curse happened in Genesis Chapter 3, when Adam and Eve disobey God.

Why do they need “leaves for the healing of the nations” in the Holy City where there is no more death, mourning, crying or pain? In the first two chapters of Genesis, God gave humankind freedom to multiply, subdue, have dominion and keep and till the earth. Is there any reason to believe that God will not still give humankind freedom in the Holy City? If so, they may mess up from time to time even in the Holy City. Once they are made aware of their mistake, take responsibility and repent (turn around) isn’t it reasonable that God will use the leaves of the tree of life for their healing?

Watch for the Signs of the End Times in Matthew 24:32 and Mark 13:28; but, watch out for false prophets who say The time is near(Luke 21.8). Several of Jesus’ parables stress watchfulness, because the event, for which a person is waiting, is likely to happen at a time a person does not expect. The next to last verse in the Bible says, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Summary

The Bible goes from two people in a Garden with God (in Genesis Chapters 1 and 2) to a multitude in a Golden City with God dwelling with them (in Revelation Chapters 21 and 22).

1. The Bible begins with everything in existence created by The Word of God.

2. God placed Adam and Eve in a Garden and gave them four responsibilities: Be Fruitful and Multiply; Subdue; Rule; and, Work in and Take Care of God’s Creation.

3. God intended that Adam and Eve would live forever in harmony with God, themselves, others and nature. This harmony was based on obeying the word of God.

4. In the third chapter in the Bible Adam and Eve disobey the Word of God. Disobedience was bad enough, but Adam and Eve did not take responsibility for their actions. As a result, a disease sets in and things do not work as God intended. Throughout the rest of the Bible God works through obedient humans. In Genesis 6:3 God indicated that sinful human beings would live a maximum of 120 years on earth.

5. The Word of God became flesh and dwells with us in the form of Jesus Christ. Jesus takes away the sin of the world. Jesus shows us the way through his love (what he has done for us) and commands us to Love One Another. When Jesus ascended to heaven, all believers became the Body of Christ in the world. Each person has an important function in the body of Christ.

6. By Faith we believe all that exists was created by the Word of God; and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing to him. By Faith Noah built, Abraham went, Moses led, etc. Those who have faith, those who obeyed God’s word throughout the Bible, did not receive what had been promised. Yet they, and all of God’s obedient children, look forward to living with God in his holy city (the New Jerusalem) where there is no more death, mourning, crying or pain (See Revelation 21:4 and Isaiah 25:8).

7. Eden is restored. The Tree of Life created by God in the second chapter of the Bible becomes the River of Life in the last chapter of the Bible. Jesus shows us the way through His Life. As in Hebrews Chapter 11 we are not there yet, but we are on the way!

God Placed Humankind Above All Creatures

A. All creatures are created with specific abilities. For example, dogs have a much better sense of smell than that of humans. Some birds can tell direction because they have an unique ability to tell north from south. Some fish go back to the area where they were born to spawn (reproduce).

B. All creatures involuntarily respond to various things. For example, the heart beats without any thought. The pupil of the eye constricts in bright light or expands in dim light. When threatened nearly all creatures tend to run away or fight. Sometimes they just freeze in place unable to move for a short period of time.

C. Most creatures can be taught to respond to various signals or events. When they respond in the desired way, they usually are rewarded. The reward reinforces the reaction and the creatures (including humans) are more likely to continue responding in the same way to the signal or event.

D. Human beings, however, were created with a brain. Humans can think, plan, dream, reason, etc. This makes humans unique among all of the creatures that God created. In the Study / Discussion Topics section of this eBook, note topic D titled How do you use your brain?

Study / Discussion Topics

A. The restoration of Eden has been a dream since shortly after Genesis Chapter 3

1. Why has it taken so long? Is humanity ready for the restoration of Eden?

2. Are we any closer to the restoration of Eden today than people were at the resurrection of Jesus? What will it take, in your opinion, for humanity to be ready for the restoration of Eden?

3. Can we, in faith, move forward toward God’s Holy City, like the people in Hebrews Chapter 11, even though the completion may be in the distant future?

B. The 1000 years in Revelation Chapter 20

1. What is the difference between the 1000 years and the New Jerusalem?

2. Is the 1000 years a new era before the New Jerusalem?

3. Or is the New Jerusalem in Chapters 21 and 22 a more detailed account of the 1000 years in Chapter 20? Why? Why not?

C. Forgiveness and healing

1. What is the relationship between admitting sin, repenting and accepting forgiveness?

2. Discuss the connection between forgiveness and the tree of life.

3. Would a person go to the tree of life to be healed if he or she did not think they had done anything wrong? If he or she did not want to change his or her ways and seek healing?

D. How do you use your brain?

1. Do you spend a lot of time felling sorry for yourself? Do you ever wonder?

c. Getting absorbed in work, discussion, pleasant-activities, etc. to the point where they distract you from dealing with your problems?

3. Do you have a clear understanding of where you are at, acknowledge your failures, seek forgiveness, deal with where you are at and go forward?

4. What have you learned from the past? Where are you today?

5. What are your dreams and visions of the future? What are your plans for the future?

a. What steps are you taking to improve yourself?

b. Where does God’s Word fit into your plans?

c. How can you overcome setbacks and road-blocks that interfere with your dreams, visions and plans?

d. What are you praying about? What do you think you should be praying about?

e. How does your plan for the future fit in with God’s plan for you?

f. What is God’s plan for you?

E. Read the Lord’s Prayer(Mathew 6:9-13; also see Luke 11:2-4)

1. Why does it start with, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name?”

2. “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Is Jesus looking forward to the restoration of Eden as described in Revelation Chapters 21 and 22?

3. “Give us today our daily bread.” Jesus fed the 5,000 and 4,000 in Mark. Does this mean that no one needs to work to obtain his/her daily bread? Why? Or why not?

4. “And forgive us our debts (sins), as we also have forgiven our debtors (those who sin against us).” Is there a relationship between being forgiven and how we forgive others? Why? Or why not? (See Mathew 6:14-15.)

5. “And lead us not into temptation (testing), but deliver us from evil (the evil one). Would God lead us into temptation? Why? Or why not? Discuss how the word of God may deliver us from evil.

6. Some manuscripts add, “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen.” Discuss the reference to the kingdom of God in the Lord’s Prayer. (See 1 Chronicles 29:11.) How does the kingdom of God relate to the body of Christ?

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Thank you for reading this eBook. If it helped you, please take a moment to leave a comment at your favorite eBook retailer. Thanks! John Dunn

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Books in the “Seven Chapter Bible Overview” Series

Book 1: Seven Chapter Bible Overview

Book 2: Created By: The Word of God

Book 3: Harmonious Life and Responsibilities

Book 4: It Is Not My Fault!

Book 5: Role Model

Book 6: We Live By Faith

Book 7: Eden Restored (This eBook)

Book 8: The New Jerusalem

About the Author

John Dunn is very interested in long term forecasting, prophesy, and Biblical studies. Relatively early in life he completed a teacher’s training course in the Bethel Bible Series. Later John wrote an extremely limited circulation newsletter for a few years titled, “The Association of Christians in Secular Careers.”

John spent most of 2004 going through the Bible and writing a brief overview of what he considered to be the main concepts presented in each book. Currently he is updating and expanding his 13-year-old writings.

The author may be contacted at: [email protected] Please place “7 Chapter” in the subject line (or the email may go in the junk folder!). Thank you.

John Dunn’s website: john-dunn.figroupbooks.com

John Dunn has two series of eBooks:

Seven Chapter Bible Overview

Revelation: Transition to New Era

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Eden Restored

In the last two chapters of the Bible God assures us we will dwell with him in his dwelling place. The Tree of Life in the second chapter of the Bible becomes the River of Life in the last chapter in the Bible. This eBook includes a short summary of the seven chapters of the Bible reviewed in this series of eBooks. Study / Discussion Topics are included.
We suggest you use the eBooks in this series in group study / discussion sessions. Select a time and place for a group discussion. Then give invitations showing time and place of meeting along with the web address where each person can obtain their own eBook copy. Most of the eBooks in this series are very short, so it will take only a few minutes to read the eBook.
The eBooks in this series will lend themselves to one or two half-hour or one one-hour discussion sessions.
The chapters in the Bible covered in the "Seven Chapter Bible Overview" series are:
Genesis Chapters 1, 2 and 3
John Chapter 1
Hebrews Chapter 11
Revelation Chapters 21 and 22.
Books in the "Seven Chapter Bible Overview" Series include:
Book 1: Seven Chapter Bible Overview
Book 2: Created By: The Word of God
Book 3: Harmonious Life and Responsibilities
Book 4: It Is Not My Fault!
Book 5: Role Model
Book 6: We Live By Faith
Book 7: Eden Restored
Book 8: The New Jerusalem